United Downs geothermal project to conduct evaluation work by mid-2020
United Downs Deep Geothermal Project Video screenshot
Alexander Richter
12 Dec 2019
Entering its third phase of development, the United Downs Deep Geothermal Power project expects to conduct a series of tests evaluating both the wells drilled and the permeability. This work is expected to be done within the first half of 2020.
Now that drilling has finished, the United Downs Deep Geothermal Power project is entering the third phase of the programme; evaluation.
Preliminary results from the drilling are promising, so the project. Both wells intersected the fault at the predicted depth and the temperature at the bottom of the deeper well is around 190 degrees Celsius, which is also as expected. Downhole measurements have confirmed that there are lots of natural fractures and early indications are that the permeability is promising.
The project team now needs to carry out a series of measurements and hydraulic tests to evaluate the fault structure, make sure the wells are in good condition, and evaluate the amount of geothermal energy we can sustainably harness from the system. Work is expected to be carried out during the first half of 2020.
Between December and February, a water storage pond will be constructed that will allow to carry out further tests on our deep well UD-1. This facility is needed to store water that is produced from the well so that it can be allowed to cool and analysed before either being reinjected or disposed of offsite.
Once the pond is complete a ‘workover’ drilling rig will be mobilized to the site in March to remove a temporary downhole packer from UD-1, carry out some more downhole ‘logging’ measurements, attempt to collect sidewall cores and carry out the production test.
The workover rig is much smaller than the one used for drilling the wells; about half the mast height and less equipment on the ground, but it will still be worth seeing and a public drop-in session will be held while it is here.
Source: United Downs Deep Geothermal Power website
